Tunnels face threat of five-day April strike

Mar 28 2006

By Larry Neild and Deborah James Daily Post Staff

THE Mersey tunnels could be closed by strike action for five days next month, union officials said last night. The warning came as the region was today waking up to a transport nightmare, with thousands of commuters facing chaos as the two tunnels and the Mersey Ferry service were shut down. More than 30,000 Merseyside local sector workers are staging a 24-hour stoppage over a pensions dispute with the Government. Officials at the local government union Unison threatened longer tunnel closures as they draw up a hit list of services for further industrial action. Last night, business leaders launched a blistering attack on Merseytravel chief executive Neil Scales after he announced he was joining the industrial action. More than 50,000 Liverpool children will get the day off school as caretakers and classroom assistants join picket lines forcing more than half the region's schools to shut their doors. Merseytravel chief comes under attack This strike is only the beginning of operation Rolling Thunder, warns union leader